Community celebration planned at Mukai House
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Islanders are invited to a celebration this Sunday at the Mukai House as members of the Friends of Mukai organization will remove the last piece of fencing and open the property up to the public.
The event, which begins at 2 p.m., will feature refreshments, a chance to tour the home and provide an opportunity to give feedback about what the property’s future holds.
At 3 p.m., the last section of fencing will be ceremoniously removed.
“You will be reacquainted with Mukai’s fascinating story and preview some of our exciting plans for the future,” Friends of Mukai’s Kathy Farner said in a statement.
Since obtaining full legal rights to the property last April, Friends of Mukai has been working to develop an action plan for the years ahead and the restoration of the property.
With help from state and county partners, Friends of Mukai has secured partial funding to restore the house and is working with a Vashon-based accounting firm to provide financial oversight, and professional cultural and preservation experts to guide the organization through the complex restoration process.
The board is also finalizing a multi-year action plan aimed at reclaiming, restoring and maintaining the Mukai property — upgrading the house’s electrical and plumbing systems, replacing windows and repairing cracked concrete sidewalk.
In the meantime, Friends of Mukai is actively recruiting a network of volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including maintenance and preservation. Those interested in volunteering should email members@friendsofmukai.org or call board member Barb Schroeder at 463-3292.
